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Old 02-04-07, 01:25 PM   #5
BellJack95
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Good list showing a breakdown of US sub losses during the war. I believe the one sub lost to an air raid occured while in port. The Japanese did have a fairly good combined ASW effort. It took a little while for the Japanese to put together their ASW effort but it was effective. Japanese aircraft contributed to several US subs being lost during the war. For example post war analysis of Japanese naval records indicate the USS Bullhead and USS Grayback were lost to Japanese aircraft dropping depth charges. I am sure some of the other 26 subs lost to ASW activity can be traced to Japanese aircraft as well since the Japanese used both air and ships in the ASW role.

Concerning a perceived lack of danger faced by the Allied submariners against the Japanese; some people may be discounting the dangers faced because of the numbers of subs lost was vastly different in each theatre. It is true that 52 US Subs were lost from December 1941 thru August 1945, as compared to the 751 German subs that were lost from September 1939 thru May 1945, but I think you need to look at the type of missions being conducted, the combat theatre conditions, and the way each side used their submarines and you will find that it was dangerous for a submariner no matter where they served.
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